Recently confirmed Hamilton West Labour candidate for this year's general election Dr Gaurav Sharma is a determined over-achiever.
Gaurav, 30, said his attraction to the Labour Party comes from his family's experience after arriving in New Zealand from India 21 years ago.
"My family's journey in New Zealand starting from my father's homelessness to receiving my Fulbright [Scholarship] has been full of perseverance and is a true example of Labour's motto of backing the Kiwi dream.
"My whanau and I have always been thankful to the Labour Party's policies and social security measures as well as educational and health reforms and as such Labour was the only choice.
Gaurav gained proxime accessit (runner-up dux) at Auckland Grammar. Volunteering to work as a caregiver in a rest home he was inspired to study medicine at Auckland Medical School with part of his training in Waikato Hospital and the Waikato-Coromandel Region.
He qualified as a medical doctor.
The recipient of a Fulbright Scholar to Washington DC, he studied business management with public health and politics for two years at the George Washington University and gained grassroots campaign work in the American political system while studying digital political strategy, PR, communications and opinion journalism.